pre-molt symptoms?

would love a list of pre molt symptoms because i cant tell if my scorp is gravid or just in premolt.

Bloated looking blimp-like scorpion
Dull color
tails relaxed to it's side
fasting
and sometimes you can see the new exo through the membrane.

~Abyss~ wrote:

Bloated looking blimp-like scorpion
Dull color
tails relaxed to it's side
fasting
and sometimes you can see the new exo through the membrane.

correct me if i am wrong but isnt that the same symptoms of pregnacy?

LOL, welcome to the frustration of the hobby. Usually gravid females are not dull in colors and they dont usually do the side tail thing. They will get fat obviously but instead of seeing a new exo you'll probably most likely see embreyos. I had a G.grandidieri sold to me as an adult...it was in fact 7i and just a little bigger than the male. When i got it, it looked early premolt to me instead of gravid even thought they were witnessed mating. So it got bigger and bigger and I thought i was about ready to pop and instead she molted. My first instinct was premolt but due to it being 7i and having been mated I figured my instincts were wrong...plus this species is rare and not a lot info on them so who would of known it would have a post ultimate molt. Anyways here a pic.

*Update...couldn't find a pic of the G.grandidieri to show but here's my PREMOLT G.ankarana. Notice the new exo is visiable under the membrane and the dull coloration.


And here's a heavily gravid C.gracilis and a group pic for comparison

~Abyss~ wrote:

LOL, welcome to the frustration of the hobby. Usually gravid females are not dull in colors and they dont usually do the side tail thing. They will get fat obviously but instead of seeing a new exo you'll probably most likely see embreyos. I had a G.grandidieri sold to me as an adult...it was in fact 7i and just a little bigger than the male. When i got it, it looked early premolt to me instead of gravid even thought they were witnessed mating. So it got bigger and bigger and I thought i was about ready to pop and instead she molted. My first instinct was premolt but due to it being 7i and having been mated I figured my instincts were wrong...plus this species is rare and not a lot info on them so who would of known it would have a post ultimate molt. Anyways here a pic.

*Update...couldn't find a pic of the G.grandidieri to show but here's my PREMOLT G.ankarana. Notice the new exo is visiable under the membrane and the dull coloration.


And here's a heavily gravid C.gracilis and a group pic for comparison

mine does the side tail thing but its been so long since ive had her i thought she would have molted by now. i keep her enclosure humid and warm. also mine always looks dull in color lol. she is brown hehe. i really wish i had a camera with the quality of yours so i could show you. BTW excellent scorps you have there. they are beautiful.

Thank you, again from the pictures I saw you posted I would guess premolt. Remember the last molt takes the longest and every scorpion species has different growth rates. Just be patient.

~Abyss~ wrote:

Thank you, again from the pictures I saw you posted I would guess premolt. Remember the last molt takes the longest and every scorpion species has different growth rates. Just be patient.

here is a video of the lil scamp lol. look over the mess lol.

I'd say just let her be until she stops eating.

Here are my 2 simple observation and it works perfectly well for me:

Use your forceps or a stick. Try to touch your scorpions with it.


1. If you see your scorpions flicking its metasoma then it is due to molt.
2. If yor scorpions starts to swirl it metasoma it will molt in a week or 2.

But then again this is from my own experience.

Vixvy wrote:

Here are my 2 simple observation and it works perfectly well for me:

Use your forceps or a stick. Try to touch your scorpions with it.


1. If you see your scorpions flicking its metasoma then it is due to molt.
2. If yor scorpions starts to swirl it metasoma it will molt in a week or 2.

But then again this is from my own experience.

lol i dont recognize the term metasoma. and i dont use forceps. mine wont sting me i just handle her with my hands lol.

The metasoma is the tail.

ShredderEmp wrote:

The metasoma is the tail.

oh she dont worry about me in the slightest lol. she is a very strange scorpion lol

Perhaps this will help:

http://www.scorpion-forum.com/t9277-how-to-identify-a-premolt-scorpion

update! unfortunately she seems to be molting. the increased humidity has caused her shell to show signs like the little white areas between the plates on her head. i was hoping she was pregers. now i need to find a man for her.

Let her be ad check later!! Good luck!!

ShredderEmp wrote:

Let her be ad check later!! Good luck!!

i am giving her space =] even tho she was really active today.

Fingers crossed man.

Patcho wrote:

Fingers crossed man.

thanks buddy i dont think there will be babies atm tho.

Hehehe, not yet at least.
I was referring to the molt. Hope it goes well.

Patcho wrote:

Hehehe, not yet at least.
I was referring to the molt. Hope it goes well.

im sure it will be a good molt. and hopefully soon i can find her a male. i wish shipping wasnt so freakin expensive cause then id buy one.

Its a local species isn't it? Go out and look for one. If not shipping isn't so expensive.

~Abyss~ wrote:

Its a local species isn't it? Go out and look for one. If not shipping isn't so expensive.

yeah but i would have to go up on the mountain

Hiking trip + free scorpions? I'd do that in a heartbeat! I love to hike.

Patcho wrote:

Hiking trip + free scorpions? I'd do that in a heartbeat! I love to hike.

its all private property lol. id get shot in a heartbeat